VP Joe Biden's son has stroke, in Philly hospital

PHILADELPHIA — Vice President Joe Biden's older son, the Delaware attorney general, had a mild stroke Tuesday and was transferred to a Philadelphia hospital, where he was alert and talking with family.

Beau Biden, 41, had been admitted to Christiana Hospital in Newark, Del., Tuesday morning. Later in the day, he was transferred to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, vice presidential spokeswoman Elizabeth Alexander said.

Biden was expected to recover, his doctor said.

A police motorcade and an ambulance later went to the University Hospital, but officials declined to comment on it, referring questions to the vice president's office.

Christiana Hospital's Dr. Timothy Gardner said Biden was in good spirits and was talking with his relatives. The doctor said in a statement issued through the White House that Biden was fully alert and in stable condition and had full motor and speech skills.

Biden's spokesman, Jason Miller, had no immediate comment.

Beau Biden returned last year from a yearlong deployment to Iraq with his Army National Guard unit. He was a captain and military lawyer in the 261st Theater Tactical Signal Brigade. He considered running this year for the Senate seat his father held before becoming vice president but chose to run for re-election as attorney general.